Mohali kabaddi player Rana Balachauria shot dead publicly
Rana Balachauria was shot repeatedly in the head and face, collapsing as gunfire sparked panic among fleeing players and spectators.
In a brazen act of violence that has shaken Punjab, a prominent kabaddi player and promoter was shot dead in front of hundreds of spectators during a live tournament in Mohali on Monday evening, turning a sporting celebration into a scene of terror and grief.
The victim, 30-year-old Kanwar Digvijay Singh, widely known as Rana Balachauria, was gunned down at the Sohana Kabaddi Cup in Sector 82, an event he himself was helping organise. Witnesses said the attack unfolded suddenly, leaving players, officials, and families in shock as gunfire echoed across the packed ground.
Disturbing video footage from the event, later widely shared on social media, captures the horrifying moment when shots ring out. In the clip, players are seen abandoning the field mid-match, while spectators scramble for cover in panic. The footage, shared by several political leaders including Congress MLA Pargat Singh, has intensified public outrage and renewed fears about safety at public events.
According to initial reports, Balachauria was struck multiple times at close range and collapsed on the ground before help could reach him. He was rushed for medical assistance but succumbed to his injuries. The murder, carried out in full public view, has raised troubling questions about security arrangements at sporting gatherings and the growing audacity of criminal gangs.
Soon after the killing, a rival gang claimed responsibility, describing the attack as an act of revenge linked to the 2022 murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. While police have said they are verifying the claim, the alleged motive has added another layer of tension to an already volatile situation in the state.
The killing has sparked a fierce political storm, with opposition parties accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to control crime and protect citizens. The BJP’s Chandigarh unit, sharing the video of the shooting, pointed to previous attacks on kabaddi players such as Sandeep Nangal Ambian and Tejpal Singh. In a sharp statement, the party claimed that sportspersons had become “soft targets” under what it described as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s “incompetent leadership” and Arvind Kejriwal’s “remote-control governance.”
Congress leaders echoed those concerns. Former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the murder “exposes a serious failure of law and order in Punjab,” arguing that such brazen acts of violence in crowded public spaces put ordinary citizens at grave risk. “When criminals can strike so openly, it sends a chilling message to society,” he said.
Beyond the political blame game, the human impact of the killing has been deeply felt within Punjab’s sporting community. Balachauria was known not only as a player but also as a passionate promoter of kabaddi, a sport rooted in the region’s culture. Friends and fellow players described him as energetic and committed, someone who worked tirelessly to keep local tournaments alive and accessible to young athletes.
As investigations continue, police have promised swift action and increased security at public events. Yet for many in Punjab, the images from Mohali remain hard to forget — a reminder of how quickly joy can turn into tragedy, and how urgently the state must confront the growing fear that violence can strike anywhere, even in places meant for celebration.